18 students at Proviso West High School in west suburban Hillside have been arrested after recent fights at the school.
On Monday, 15 students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct following a fight inside the school's lunchroom. 14 were juveniles and one was legally an adult. All were released to their parents later that day.
When it started, the police liaison officer tried to break it up, but things were out of hand and he had to call for police backup.
"When he got up and involved with the fight, the kids continued to fight and they wouldn't listen to him, they were not listening to school staff, or administration so he had to call for assistance," Hillside Police Chief Joseph Lukaszek says.
Lukaszek said Privoso West has no more fights than any other school around the country, but a quick check on YouTube found several others at the same school--including one just last week.
There was another one on Tuesday, but no arrests were made in either of those incidents.
All of the students in Monday's big fight have been suspended. Police say it was not gang related, and the chief said emphatically that no weapons were involved.
"And that's a part of the problem," Lukaszek says. "Over the last couple of days, through all of the social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, a lot of people have been posting various misinformation about guns being found, people being shot, people being stabbed. None of that is true."
The police chief tells FOX 32 News that the big fight on Monday was sparked by an incident a few weeks ago, but he did not provide any details.
Police are taking extra precautions at the school to deter any more problems, but the chief tells parents and students they should not be afraid to come to school.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:04:36 GMT
Rescue crews aren't the only ones heading to help tornado victims in Oklahoma. Addison's Lutheran Church Charities sent ten comfort dogs to Moore on Tuesday, to help console victims.
Rescue crews aren't the only ones heading to help tornado victims in Oklahoma. Addison's Lutheran Church Charities sent ten comfort dogs to Moore on Tuesday, to help console victims.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 4:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 20:54:15 GMT
A Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing a Chicago fan at a popular waterfront shopping area before a Bears/Jaguars football game last fall.
A Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing a Chicago fan at a popular waterfront shopping area before a Bears/Jaguars football game last fall.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:53:12 GMT
Police are asking for help to identify the body of woman or teen girl found strangled and badly burned in a Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood Dumpster Sunday night.
Police are asking for help to identify the body of woman or teen girl found strangled and badly burned in a Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood Dumpster Sunday night.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:51 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:51:14 GMT
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:12 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:12:24 GMT
Every time a tornado makes news, the local public cannot help but think about what happened in this area, back in 1967. A destructive storm system hit the southwest suburbs 46 years ago.
Every time a tornado makes news, the local public cannot help but think about what happened in this area, back in 1967. A destructive storm system hit the southwest suburbs 46 years ago.
